Fan Assembly for a Hat

ABSTRACT

A fan assembly for a hat. In some embodiments, the present general inventive concept comprises a fan assembly to position a cooling fan upon the concave surface of the crown of a hat. Generally, the fan is connected by wires or similar means to a power source and controller located on the exterior of the hat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/637,315, filed on Apr. 24, 2012, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to personal cooling systems and in particular to a personal fan assembly for use with a hat.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hats perform a number of useful functions, including, inter alia, in the case of brimmed hats, protecting the eyes and face from excessive exposure to the sun. However, traditional brimmed hats in many cases and under certain circumstances entail a degree of discomfort for the user, as the hat retains heat within the scalp area of the user. From time to time, this retention of heat within the scalp area is problematic, especially in warm weather, as during the summer months in many regions, and in densely peopled locations, such as within sports stadia.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus or system that would facilitate cooling of the scalp area of a user when the user is wearing a hat.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept, as described herein through some example embodiments, comprises a fan assembly for a hat. In some embodiments, the present general inventive concept comprises a fan assembly to position a cooling fan upon the concave surface of the crown of a hat. Generally, the fan is connected by wires or similar means to a power source and controller located on the exterior of the hat.

In some embodiments, a fan assembly for a hat according to the present general inventive concept comprises a fan to sit in the crown of a hat, said fan to direct air at the head of a person wearing the hat and a power-control module to power said fan. In some embodiments, the power-control module includes a power switch to control the flow of electricity to said fan. In some embodiments, the power switch comprises a variable power switch. In some embodiments, a fan assembly for a hat further comprises an air intake housing attached to the fan to direct air entering said fan. In some embodiments, a fan assembly for a hat further comprising form wires to elevate the fan above the head of a person wearing the hat. Generally, in these embodiments, two or more metal or plastic form wires that are positioned within the bowl of the hat. These form wires help to maintain the hat's general shape and to keep some distance between the top of the wearer's head and the fan itself.

In some embodiments of the present general inventive concept, a fan assembly for a hat comprises a fan to sit in the crown of a hat, said fan to direct air at the head of a person wearing the hat; a power-control module to power said fan; a power switch to control the flow of electricity to said fan; and means for power to flow between said power-control module and said fan. In some embodiments, the fan comprises a variable speed fan.

A fan assembly for a hat according to some embodiments of the present general inventive concept is compatible with a variety of hats, including hard hats used in the construction context.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example embodiment of a fan assembly according to the present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of one example embodiment of a fan assembly according to the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are example embodiments of a fan assembly for a hat. In some embodiments, the present general inventive concept comprises a fan assembly to position a cooling fan upon the concave surface of the crown of a hat. Generally, the fan is connected by wires or similar means to a power source and controller located on the exterior of the hat.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example embodiment of an assembly according to several features of the present general inventive concept. As shown in FIG. 1, a fan assembly 10 generally comprises a fan 20 which is configured to be mounted along an interior surface of a hat 40. A power-controller module 30, which in the illustrated embodiment is configured to be mounted along an exterior surface of the hat 40, is provided in operative communication with the fan 20. In the illustrated example embodiment, the hat 40 is a baseball-style hat with a front bill or visor. However, it will be understood that embodiments of the present general inventive concept are adapted to work with a variety of hat styles. In the illustrated embodiment, a power supply means 35, such as electrical wires, is provided to electrically connect the power-control module 30 to the fan 20 to allow the fan 20 to be operatively controlled by the power-control module 30.

FIG. 2 illustrates one example embodiment of an assembly 10 according to several features of the present general inventive concept. As shown in FIG. 2, in one example embodiment of a fan assembly for a hat, a power-control module 30 is connected to a fan 20 by two electrical wires, a first wire 37 and a second wire 38. The first wire 37 connects a battery 32 within the power-control module 30 to the fan 20. The second wire 38 connects the fan 20 to a power switch 34, which generally is connected to or in close proximity to the power-control module 30; and a third wire 39 connects the power switch 34 to the battery 32. Together, the first wire 37, fan 20, second wire 38, power switch 34, and third wire 39 form a closed loop with the battery 32 to allow direct current electricity from the battery 32 to power the fan 20.

The power switch 34 allows a user or wearer to switch the fan 20 between an on state and an off state. Generally, when the power switch 34 is in a closed position, the fan 20 is in the on state and is operating. When the power switch 34 is in an open position, the circuit connecting the battery 32 with the fan 20 is open, and the fan 20 is in the off state and is not operating.

Some embodiments of the present general inventive concept include variable power settings that allow the fan 20, when operating, to operate at various power levels, thereby moving air and cooling a wearer's head with greater or lesser intensity. Variable settings allow a user to adjust the air flow provided by the fan for preference and comfort as desired. In some embodiments, the power switch 34 includes an interface to set a power level of a fan 20 that is capable of variable power settings.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in several embodiments, the power-control module 30, with both battery 32 and power switch 34, is included in a housing which is capable of being mounted on the outside surface of the hat 40, such as for example near a part of the hat that, when worn, is positioned proximate the back of the wearer's head. In some embodiments, a clip 54 is provided along an exterior surface of the housing of the power control module 30, such that the power control module 30 may be clipped onto a lower edge of the hat 40. However, those of skill in the art will recognize other devices which are suitable to allow the power control module 30 to be mounted on a surface of the hat 40, and such other devices may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept.

In some embodiments, the fan 20 includes an attached air intake housing 25 which is configured to be mounted in fluid communication with an exterior of the hat 40. Thus, the fan 20 is capable of drawing air from the exterior of the hat 40, through the air intake housing 25 and outward through an output of the fan 20 into an interior of the hat 40. In other embodiments, the air intake housing 25 may be placed in fluid communication with the interior of the hat 40, such that the fan 20 is configured to circulate air within the interior of the hat 40. In several embodiments, one or more mounting devices (not shown), such as for example tape, hook and loop fastener material, a pin and clip assembly, a snap assembly, etc., is provided at an interface between the fan 20 and the hat 40 to allow mounting of the fan 20 along the hat 40.

In certain embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the fan assembly 10 may include two or more metal or plastic form wires 50, 52 that are positioned within the bowl of the hat. In the illustrated embodiment, the form wires 50, 52 extend from a first side of the lower edge of the hat 40, upward along an upper portion of the hat 40, and terminate along a second side of the lower edge of the hat 40. Thus, the form wires 50, 52 provide an element of rigidity to the bowl of the hat 40 to assist in maintaining the general shape of the hat 40 and to keep some distance between the top of the wearer's head and the fan 20. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the form wires 50, 52 intersect with one another and with an interface between the fan 20 and the hat 40, such that the form wires 50, 52 cooperate to support the fan 20 and to prevent the upper portion of the hat 40 from collapsing under the weight of the fan 20. In some embodiments, each of the wires 50, 52 is of a sufficient length and shape that each opposite end of each wire 50, 52 may be tucked into an existing fold along an interior lower edge of the hat 40, thereby mounting the wires 50, 52 along an interior surface of the hat 40. In certain more discreet embodiments, each of the wires 50, 52 is bendable, such that the wires 50, 52 may be formed to an interior or exterior surface of a hat 40. In other embodiments, suitable fasteners are provided to allow the wires 50, 52 to be mounted along either an interior or exterior surface of the hat 40. Those of skill in the art will recognize other configurations for the form wires 50, 52 which may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. Furthermore, it will be recognized that inclusion of the form wires 50, 52 is not necessary in all embodiments to accomplish the fan assembly 10 of the present general inventive concept.

In some embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the fan 20 is configured to operate on a relatively low amount of electricity. For example, in one embodiment, the fan 20 is configured to draw 1 amp of electricity or less from a 9-Volt battery. In this embodiment, the fan 20 is configured to sustain a runtime of up to 10 hours. In some embodiments, the battery 32 is rechargeable.

From the foregoing, it will be recognized that a fan assembly 10 has been provided which is configured to allow positioning of a cooling fan upon a concave surface of the crown of a hat. The fan assembly 10 for a hat may be constructed for compatibility with a variety of hats, including, for example, baseball caps, sun hats, hard hats of the type used in a construction context, etc.

While the present invention has been illustrated by description of some embodiments, and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan assembly for a hat, comprising: a fan adapted to be mounted along a surface of a hat, said fan being configured to direct air at the head of a person wearing the hat; and a power-control module in operative communication with said fan, said power control module being configured to supply power to said fan.
 2. The fan assembly for a hat of claim 1 wherein said power-control module includes a power switch to control a flow of electricity to said fan.
 3. The fan assembly for a hat of claim 1, said power-control module further including a housing having a clip disposed along an exterior surface thereof, said clip being adapted to secure said power control module to a hat.
 4. The fan assembly for a hat of claim 1 wherein said power switch comprises a variable power switch.
 5. The fan assembly for a hat of claim 1 further comprising an air intake housing attached to said fan to direct air entering said fan.
 6. The fan assembly for a hat of claim 5, said air intake housing being configured to be placed in fluid communication with an exterior of the hat.
 7. The fan assembly for a hat of claim 1 further comprising at least one form wire adapted to extend along a surface of the hat to support the fan above the head of a person wearing the hat.
 8. A hat and fan assembly, comprising: a fan mounted along an interior surface of said hat, said fan being configured to direct air at the head of a person wearing said hat; a power-control module to power said fan; a power switch to control the flow of electricity to said fan; and means for power to flow between said power-control module and said fan.
 9. The hat and fan assembly of claim 8 wherein said power-control module and said power switch are positioned in a housing.
 10. The hat and fan assembly of claim 9 wherein said housing is mounted on an exterior surface of said hat.
 11. The hat and fan assembly of claim 10 said housing having a clip disposed along an exterior surface thereof, said clip being secured to a lower edge of said hat.
 12. The hat and fan assembly of claim 8 wherein said power switch comprises a variable power switch.
 13. The hat and fan assembly of claim 8 wherein said fan comprises a variable speed fan.
 14. The hat and fan assembly of claim 8 further comprising an air intake housing attached to said fan to direct air entering said fan, said air intake housing being mounted in fluid communication with an exterior of said hat.
 15. The hat and fan assembly of claim 8 further comprising at least one form wire extending along a surface of said hat to support said fan above the head of a person wearing said hat. 